<div><p>Shawn is the Election Reform Editor for IVN.us. He studied history and philosophy at the University of North Texas, and joined the IVN team in 2012. He has several years of experie
SANTA FE, N.M. - The New Mexico Supreme Court has rejected Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver's attempt to implement straight-ticket (aka straight-party or one-party) voting for the November election. In a unanimous decision Wednesday, the court ruled that Toulouse Oliver did not have the authority under
Running a campaign outside the two-party apparatus is not easy. I have reported on the many barriers in place that are hostile to independent and third party candidates even launching a campaign. However, even when these candidates do make it on the ballot and present a viable challenge to the
In the current political environment, the perception is that there is much that divides Americans. Yet there is one important thing that unites most people across the political spectrum: the idea that America's political system is not working for the people and something needs to change. Donald Trump
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIb2lmHgd5s&=&t=56m Joe Rogan interviewed US Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) in the most recent episode of his podcast, Joe Rogan Experience. Rogan and Gabbard discussed a variety of topics, including the reforms Gabbard believes are needed to create a better
Commissioners in several New Mexico counties have reportedly asked local clerks not to add the straight-ticket (straight-party) option that New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver ordered for the 2018 midterm elections. The rebuke of Toulouse Oliver's actions follows on the heels of a lawsuit challenging the
Ranked choice voting, in the eyes of many reform advocates in Maine, was an important step to create an electoral system that better represents the people of Maine and hold lawmakers more accountable. Maine made history in June by becoming the first state to use ranked choice voting for statewide,
A lawsuit has been filed in response to New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver's sudden announcement that she plans to add a straight-ticket (or straight-party) option to the November ballot. The announcement comes as competitive third party and independent campaigns emerge in statewide and legislative races.
NORTH CAROLINA - Plaintiffs in the North Carolina gerrymandering case -- including Common Cause and the state's League of Women Voters -- are asking federal judges to hold off on forcing the state to redraw its congressional districts ahead of the 2018 elections. A federal court ruled on
There is a proposed constitutional amendment that is slated to be on the November ballot in Missouri aimed at eliminating corruption, creating a more transparent legislative process, and ending partisan gerrymandering. However, there are two lawsuits challenging the initiative. Amendment 1 -- brought by the group, CLEAN Missouri -- garnered
Nick Brana, who was the national political outreach coordinator for Bernie Sanders' 2016 campaign and I had an extensive conversation looking ahead to 2020. Brana and I talked about the new DNC rules passed over the weekend, but we also discussed Bernie in 2020 and his current standing with
In the latest episode of In Full Color, I talk with Nick Brana, who was the national outreach coordinator for Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign in 2016. Nick returns to the podcast to talk about new DNC rules he says offer Sanders supporters "crumbs" while hurting candidates like
FARGO, N.D. - Fargo, North Dakota may soon make history. City voters will decide in November whether or not it will become the first jurisdiction in the US to adopt Approval Voting -- an alternative voting method that allows voters to choose as many candidates on the ballot as